The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-01-21


The most expert and dangerous gang
of burglars that has ever figured 10
Philadelphia's criminal annals has been
Gagged by Chief of Detectives Kelly and
his assistants. The members, four in
number, had established temporary
headquarters in the city and had made
Preparations for beginning work on an
extensive scale. During October and
November last numerous robberies oc-
CURED in the Tenth aud Eighteenth
police districts in the northeastern
section of the city. They were man.
aged SO adroitly that the police we're
completely baffied. On the night of
December Le,' Brothers Il Co.'S silk
importing offices, on the second floor
of Cos ard Clio Chestnut street, were
entered by means Of false key and
thousands If dclars worth of silk stolen
On the following day Detectives Tate
and Miller arrested William Brooks,
alias Ben Stevens, an English ex con-
vict, who is known as the most expert
key filter in the country. He was com
mitted for trial, pleaded guilty in court
and was remanaed for sentence.
The detectives had several interviews
with him and succeeded in extracting
from him the names of bis companions
in crime and the headquarters Of the
gang. On the following day the board
ing house of Mrs. Peacock, at No. 8
Harrison street, was visited and the
stolen goods recovered. Mrs. Peacock
was arrested for receiving stolen goods
and Frederick Sells, one of the board
ers and member of the gang, was
captured. They were both indicted by
the grand jury. Last week Detectives
Bond and Donaghy went to New York
and caused the arrest of George Cava-
naugh, noted burglar with a host of
aliases His pal, Frank Mccoy, alias
Big Frank Burns, eluded the officers
and went TO Philadelphia. He was
located in house at Front and Norris
streets and Detectives Donaghy, Bond,
Miller and Tate surrounded the prem
ises. Tate saw him approach the house
and slip up a side alley, and he walked
up to him and laid his hand on his
shoulder. The burglar resisted and
drew pistol, and would have shot the
detective had it not been for the timely
interference of the others.
Brooks, Mccoy and Cavanaugh are
three of the most expert, daring and
desperate burglars known to the police.
Mccoy was captain aud leader of the
gang. and planned all the robberies.
Brooks was his righ'-hanG man because
of rs skill in lock-fitting. Both Nc
Gov and Cavsnaugh have served three
terms of imnrisonment in Philadelphia
and in 1884 robbed j'welry store in
West Philadelphia. They were SUI
prised by the police and Mccoy esrap-
ed, after firing several shots at his pur-
suers. Cavanaugh was not so fo'tu-
nate ard was captured with bullet in
his ankle. He was nierced to eigh-
teen moth in the Eastern Penit"n-
tiary. B tn are known in New York
as dangerous thieves. Wnen the gang
began operating in the city Meow
passed az Catholic priest. This die
guise enabled him TO "pipe off places
which the gang intended robbing with
out Danger of detection.
One of thoir first jobs was the rob
berry of Mrs Kate Lodges boarding
house, at 532 Master street, on October
81, where they secured $500 worth Of
jAwelrv and clothing. The rob- erv of
David Hetzel's shoe store, at 1920
Fraukford road John Daizelv's cigar
store, at Frankford road and Belgrade
street. AMI numerous other smaller jobs
have been fastened upon the gang
The detectives have secured lot of
keys which Brooks had fitted to secure
entrance into number of big business
honses. Chief Kelly has also received
information from Inspector Byrne, of
New York, stating that the place where
the stolen goods were disposed of has
hnasn louafad